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Expansion proposal would create three six-team divisions

Revere High Athletic Director Correia said all five Greater Boston League schools -Everett, Medford, Malden, Cambridge, and Somerville – have expressed an interest in joining the Northeastern Conference (NEC). Masconomet Regional, the largest school in the Cape Ann League, has also formally applied for membership in the NEC.

“We’re thinking about expanding the league to 18 teams and having three, six-team divisions,” said Correia.

The athletic directors from the 12 NEC schools will meet this month to discuss the possibility of the six teams joining the league. The five GBL teams and Masconomet would likely compete in the top division of the league in football. Revere would play in Division 2 with Gloucester, Salem, Lynn English, Lynn Classical, and Peabody. Division 3 would include Winthrop, Saugus, Swampscott, Marblehead, Beverly, and Danvers.

There would be different divisional alignments for the other boys and girls sports.

“I am definitely in favor of the proposed addition of the six schools to our conference,” said Correia. “I think it would make for a bigger and stronger Northeastern Conference with a lot of excellent competition in all sports.”

Some leagues have balked at having Everett High join because of its powerful football program, but Correia said he would welcome the Crimson Tide to the NEC.

“My philosophy is that the whole athletic department shouldn’t be based on one [football] game per year,” said Correia. “And is Everett going to always be this strong in football?Who knows?”